Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina

Being suspended and eventually kicked off of the team amid an investigation by the NCAA into whether players received benefits from agents is not a good way to start off a promising senior season. Heading into the 2010 campaign, Marvin Austin was turning into a great defensive tackle. As a true freshman he did amazingly well and even earned three starts. His 26 tackles, 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 sacks were great numbers for a true freshman who was not on the field all that often. In 2008 he started 11 games. While his sacks and tackles-for-loss numbers were down, Austin turned into a great run stuffer and totaled 38 tackles. Austin tallied 42 tackles, 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 sacks during what ended up being his last season in Chapel Hill.

Austin's size, strength and versatility are his best assets and that is why he is considered one of the best defensive tackles in this class. At 6-3 and 305 pounds, he already has the size to play tackle in the NFL and he has some room to add more strength and weight to his frame.

Austin, like so many of UNC's defensive stalwarts, could have gone pro early, but opted to return to school. Despite not playing all year, Austin could still be a first rounder. He has the talent, but now he has to stay focused on staying in playing shape and spend some time getting ready to answer a lot of questions from NFL teams.

2/8 Update: Austin finally got back on the football field during the East-West Shrine Game. He may have been a little rusty, but he was certainly in shape. The fact that he recovered a late fumble for a touchdown helped bring him more attention. Austin seems to be physically fine and that should not be an issue. However, many still have concerns about his attitude and the NFL Combine interviews will be pretty important. If all goes well, he should find himself back in the mix for a first round selection.

4/4 Update: Austin seems to have done an adequate job of convincing NFL teams that his suspension during the 2010 season was a mistake that will not affect his professional career. His physical tools have never been in question and now Austin is working his way back up the draft boards. He may be a gamble, but Austin could be a superb pickup in the second round, but a team will have to be willing to take the risk.